Just two days before his 27th birthday, a former Patoka man was sentenced Thursday in Fayette County Court to 15 years in prison after being convicted on a string of felonies in October.

Avery A. Swarms

Avery A. Swarms was facing up to 15 years on each of the Class 1 felony charges for which a jury found him guilty, along with an additional 7 years on a Class 2 felony conviction.

After a three-day trial, a Fayette County jury found Swarms guilty of Class 1 residential burglary; participation in the manufacturing of methamphetamine; possession of meth precursors; and Class 2 felony possession of meth manufacturing materials.

For the burglary charge he was sentenced to 15 years in prison; on the manufacturing charge 8 years; on the possession of precursors charge 8 years; possession of meth materials 5 years. All sentences were ordered to be served concurrently. A Class 3 charge of arson in a separate case was dismissed.

Before handing down the sentence, Chief Judge S. Gene Schwarm denied a defense motion for a new trial. Swarms has remained in custody of the Fayette County jail since his April arrest.